Image source: topwar.ru
The Japanese government has recently been stepping up efforts to strengthen the country's defense capability, allocating more and more money for this. In addition, Tokyo decided to provide defensive assistance to some less developed countries. The Self-Defense Forces are turning into a full-fledged army, which Japan could not officially have at the end of World War II.
According to the Japanese newspaper Asahi, security assistance for six countries will be provided free of charge in the next fiscal year. We are talking about such countries as Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea. There is also one African country among them – Djibouti. This small country, which has a strategically important location at the exit from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, is also notable for the fact that there are military bases of two world powers – the United States and China. The base of the Japan Self-Defense Forces is also located here.
Image source: topwar.ru
According to the Japanese edition, these countries will receive from Tokyo small patrol boats and (or) drones, as well as some equipment that will increase the ability to monitor territorial waters and airspace in these countries. However, gratuitous assistance will be provided on condition that Tokyo controls that it is used for its intended purpose. To do this, the Japanese side reserves the right to conduct inspections from time to time. In total, the Japanese government plans to allocate about 5 billion yen ($ 35 million) for these purposes.
Asahi notes that the choice of these countries is connected with Tokyo's desire to weaken China's influence there and resist it.
